Valve



Oct. 29, 1940. R. rla. BRYANT* VALVE `Filed NOV. 14, 1936 Patented Oct.29, 1940 UNITED STAT-ES PATENT OFFICE y executrix of the will deceasedofsaid Boy B. Bryant,

Application November 14, 1938, Serial No. 110,795

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in valves.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved valve adapted tobe connected in a well tubing for controlling the introduction of alifting uid into said tubing, whereby the well liquid is raised in saidtubing.

An important object of the invention is to provide an improved flowvalve which is actuated by the differential of pressure within the welltubing and well casing, there being positive means for holding the valveopen to permit the admittance of lifting uid into the tubing until suchtime as the tubing above said valve is entirely emptied of well liquid.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved flow valvewhich is so constructed that a definite pressure dierential between thepressures in the tubing and casing is required to open said valve toadmit the lifting fluid into the tubing, whereby the presence of wellliquid in the tubing above the valve, and the presence of lsufficientlifting fluid in the tubing is assured before the valve is opened,thereby producing emcient operation, as well as conserving the liftinguid.

`A further object of the invention is to' provide an improved ilow valvewhich is so arranged that an excessive column of well liquid will not bebuilt up in the well tubing above the valve, whereby the lifting mediumis always sufllcient to raise said liquid.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved flow valveassembly which may be bodily removed from the well tubing, wherebymounting or dismounting thereof is facilitated; the entire structurebeing simple in construction, whereby manufacturing costs are reduced toa minimum.

A construction designed to carry out the invention will be hereinafterdescribed, together with other features of the invention. p

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of thefollowing specification and by reference to the accompanying drawing, inwhich an example of the invention is shown, and wherein:

Figure 1 is an elevation of a portion of a well tubing having aplurality of flow valves, constructed in accordance with the inventionconnected therein, Y

Figure 2 is a transverse, vertical, sectional view of the flow valveshowing the ball in its lower seated position,

Figure 3 is a similar view, with the ball in an intermediate position, I

Figure 4 is a similar view, with the ball in its upper seated position,and

Figure 5 is a horizontal, cross-sectional view, taken on the line 5-5 ofFigure 4.

In the drawing, the numeral I designates the f usual well casing whichhas the well tubing II extending axially therethrough. The tubingandcasing are, of course, of different diameters whereby an annular spaceis formed between the tubing and casing. In carrying out the invention,a plurality of flow valves I2 are connected in the well tubing II, beingspaced from each other throughout the length of the tubing string. Eachvalve includes a coupling collar I3 which is internally screw-threadedat each end, whereby said collar may be readily connected to the usualwell tubing.

A valve housing I4 is formed at one side of vthe collar I3 and ispreferably made integral therewith. The housing is elongate beingsubstantially the same length as the collar I3, and the outer surface ofthe housing is rounded (Figure while its lowerend is bevelled at Il',

` whereby when the housing is lowered within the well casing with thetubing string II, said housing will not hang or catch on the insidecouplings of the 'well casing III.

An axial bore I5 extends from a point near the lower end of the housingI4 to the extreme upper end thereof and the bore is preferablycylindrical. A flanged valve seat member I6 is disposed within the lowerend of the bore I5 of the housing, and this member is provided with anaxial bore I1 extending therethrough. When the member I6 is within thebore I5 (Figures 2, 3 and 4), the lower end of the bore I1 of saidmember communicates with the upper-end of angular ports I8 which areformed in the lower end of the housing Il. 'I'he opposite ends of theports I8 are open to the interior of the well casing, whereby acommunication is established between the interior of the casing and thebore I1. A suitable packing ring I9 is interposed between the undersideof the flanged member I6 and the bottom of the bore I5 to preventleakage at this point.

'I'he upper end ofthe bore of the member I6 is enlarged and is formedwith an annular valve seat 2li.- The member I6 is externallyscrewthreaded to receive the lower end of an elongate sleeve 2I which isinserted within the bore I5 above said member. The outer diameter of thesleeve 2I is such that said sleeve has a tight sliding fit within thebore I5 of the housing.

The sleeve extends substantially throughout the forms an annularshoulder 23 at the upper end of such reduced portion, while an annularbevelled valve seat 24 is formed at the lower end of said portion. It isnoted that the reduced portion 22 of the bore is located so that theseat 24 is spaced some distance above the annular seat 20 formed at theupper end of the member I6. A ball 25 is mounted in this space betweenthe valve seats 20 and 24 aud is adapted to engage one or the other ofsaid seats, as will be hereinafter explained.

A piston 25 is mounted to slide within the upper end of the bore 22 ofthe sleeve 2| and normally rests upon the annular shoulder 23 formed atthe upper end of the reduced portion 22' of the bore of said sleeve. Thepiston has a depending stem 21 which extends downwardly through thereduced portion 22' and has its lower end terminating in alinement withthe valve seat 24, as is clearly shown in Figure 2. The piston isnormally held on the shoulder 23 by a coiled spring 23 which is confinedbetween the upper end of the piston and the underside of a flanged cap29 which is threadedinto the upper end of the bore 22 of the sleeve 2|.A plug 30 is threaded into the upper end of the bore I5 of the housingI4 and has its underside engaging the cap 29 at the top of the sleeve2|, whereby said sleeve is firmly held within the bore I5. If desired, asuitable packing gasket 3| may be interposed between the plug 30 and thecap 29.

From the above, it will be seen that a communication is establishedbetween the bore 22 of the sleeve 2| and the annular space between thewell tubing I I and the casing III, by means of the bore I'I of themember I6 and the angular ports I8 formed in the lower end of the body.Therefore, when the ball 25 is unseated, fluid may ilow from the wellcasing through the port I8, bore II and into the bore 22 of the sleeve.For establishing a communication between the bore 22 of the sleeve andthe interior of the well tubing II, the sleeve 2| is provided with aradial port 32 which is located intermediate the reduced portion 22' ofsaid bore (Figures 2 and 5). The port 32 has its outer end communicatingwith a radial opening 33 provided in the inner side of the valve housingI4 and collar I3. The opening 33 is open to the interior of the collarI3 and, therefore, to the interior of the well tubing, and thus, it willbe seen that a communication is established through this opening and theport 32 between the well tubing II and the bore 22 of the sleeve. As hasbeen pointed out, there is a communication between the bore and theinterior of the well casing III, and therefore, it follows that with theabove arrangement a communication between the interior of the welltubing and the interior of the well casing is had. A vertical passage34-connects the opening 33 with the upper end of the bore 22 of thesleeve 2|, whereby the top of the piston 26 is subjected to the pressureof the fluid or liquid within the well tubing. It is noted that thelower end of the passage 34 terminates above the radial ports 32 in thesleeve and communicates with the upper end of the opening 33, as clearlyshown in Figures 2, 3 and 4.

In operation, a plurality of the flow valves I2 are connected in thewell tubing II at spaced points throughout the vertical length of thetubing string. Therefore, as the tubing is lowered into the well casingI0, the valves are 10W- velocity of gas ered therewith. At this timethere is no gas, or other lifting fluid within the well casing and,therefore, the ball valve 25 is resting on the seat 2II of the memberI6, and the piston 26 is resting on the shoulder 23 being held so by thecoiled spring 2l. As the tubing II becomes filled with the well liquid,such liquid will rise above the valve housing I4 and the pressure of thefluid will be exerted against the upper end of the ball 25 through theopening 33. port 32 and bore 22 of the sleeve 2|. At the same time thefluid will pass upwardly through the vertical passage 34 and will enterthe bore 22 of the sleeve 2| to exert its pressure against the top ofthe piston 26 and aid said spring 28 in holding the piston in itslowermost position. At this time the pressure is equalized on both sidesof the piston 26 and the ball 25 is acting as a check valve to preventthe well liquid within the tubing II from flowing into the well casing.

The gas, or other lifting uid, is then introduced into the annular spacebetween the well casing III and the tubing II and this gas pressure willact through the port I8 and bore I'I of the member I5 against theunderside of the ball 25 of the uppermost valve. When the gas pressurehas been built up suiciently to overcome the pressure of the fluidexerted against the upper end of the ball, said ball will be unseatedand moved upwardly to the position shown in Figure 3. At this time theball can move only to this position because it will strike the lower endof the stem 21 of the piston 26 which is being held in its lowermostposition by the coiled spring 26 and the pressure of the liquid withinthe well tubing. Therefore, the ball will be raised from the seat 20 toan intermediate position between the valve seat 20 and the upper valveseat 24, whereby the gas from the well casing may flow through the bore22 of the sleeve 2|, port 32 and opening 33 into the well tubing. Thegas pressure, being greater than the pressure of the liquid within thewell tubing can raise the ball 25 from its seat 20, but is insuicient toraise the piston 26 because the spring tension is added to the pressureof the well liquid within the tubing in holding said piston in itslowermost posit-lon. Therefore, the ball is held in an intermediateposition between the valve seat by the stem and the gas or other liftingmedium, ilows around said ball and enters the well tubing.

Upon the initial admittance of the gas into the well tubing it will beobvious that said gas is acting against the fluid column in the welltubing above the valve and, therefore, the movement of the gas throughthe bore of the sleeve, through the port 32 and opening 33 iscomparatively slow. However, as the column of fluid within the tubingbecomes aerated the gas flowing through the bore 22 of the sleeve willincrease its velocity. Also as the fluid column begins to move thepressure upon the piston 26 becomes gradually lessened. As the velocityof the gas increases and continues to increase, a back pressure is builtup in the bore 22 of the sleeve 2| because of the restricted opening orport 32 in the wall of said sleeve. 'I'his back pressure will continueto build up because the will continue to increase as the fluid movesupwardly through the well tubing and when this pressure reaches apredetermined point it will overcome the tension of the coil spring 26and raise the piston. 26 within the upper end of the bore 22 of thesleeve. When the piston 28 is moved upwardly by this gas pressure in thebore 22, the stem 2'l'dependlng from the lower end of the piston` willbe raised accordingly, whereby the ball 25 will be permitted to engagethe upper annular vseat 2| to close the bore 22. The upward movement ofthe ball 25 will, of course, be occasioned by the pressure of thelifting fluid within the well casing. The position of the valve at thistime is clearly shown in Figure 4. As soon as the ball 25 engages theseat 24, it is obvious that the iluid from the well easing cannot enterthe well tubing through this valve any longer. The valve is held in thisposition by the pressure of the fluid in the casing, and since thisfluid cannot enter the tubing through the valve in its shut-oi!position, said iiuid pressure will act upon the valve next therebelow tooperate it in the same manner.

, The valve will remain in its closed position so long as the uidpressure within the casing l is greater than the pressure of the wellliquid within the tubing plus the tension of the coiled spring 28. Thus,until such time as the well liquid again builds up in the well tubing Ilto a point where its pressure exerted against the top of the piston 26and the top of the ball 25, plus the tension of the spring 28 which issumcient to overcome the pressure of the lifting fluid within the wellcasing, the valve will remain closed or in the position shown in Figure4. With this arrangement, the tension-of the coiled spring is addedv tothe pressure of the well liquid within the tubing to act against thepressure of the lifting fluid within the well casing. Obviously, byvarying the tension of the coil spring 28 it is possible to accuratelyadjust the device so that a predetermined column of fluid will build upin the well tubing before the valve is opened.

This assures the proper amount of liquid being in the Well tubing abovethe valve before said valve is open, and at the same time assures asumcient pressure of lifting fluid in the well casing before the valveis opened. Therefore, a conservation of the lifting fluid isaccomplished.

When the well liquid in the tubing has reached the point where itspressure, plus the pressure of the spring 28, is sufllcient to overcomethe pressure of the lifting uid in the casing, the piston 26 will bemoved downwardly to move the ball 25 from the upper seat 2l. As soon asthis occurs the gas or other lifting fluid is permitted to enter thebore 22 of the sleeve 2|, pass around the ball 25 and into the welltubing, as has been explained. The gas continues to enter the welltubing until its velocity has reached the point suflicient to build up aback pressure beneath the piston 26, at which time said piston israisedA to again permit the ball 25 to engage the seat 24. Therefore,during the operation of the valve, the ball 25 is alternately moved toengage and disengage the seat 24. It is noted that during the actualoperation the ball 25 never engages the lowermost seat 20. The only timethat the ball engages this seat is when there is no fluid pressurewithin the well casing at Iwhich time gravity permits the ball to engagethis lower seat so as to act as a check to prevent any liquid within thewell tubing from flowing into the well casing.

It is noted that there are few working parts to the device and it isvery simple in construction. By removing the plug 30 from the upper endof the bore I5 of the valve housing I 4, it is possible to remove theentire assembly. If it is only desired to remove the spring 28 to eitherreplace the same or substitute a new one therefor, it is only necessaryafter removing the plug, to remove the anged cap 2l and insert a newspring. The provision of the ball 25 assures a tight seal when saidballL is seated and prevents any leakage of pressure thereby.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:v

1. A flow valve including. a housing adapted to to be connected in thewell tubing within a well casing and having a bore communicating withthe interior of said tubing and also communicating withthe interior ofthe well casing, whereby communication between the tubing and casing isestablished through said bore, a valve in the bore for controlling thenow therethrough and actuated by the differential in pressures withinthe tubing and casing, movable means movable independently of the valvehaving one side subjected to the pressure within the tubing and itsopposite side subjected to the pressure in the casing for holding thevalve in an open position until the pressure within the casing hasreached a predetermined point, and resilient means engaging the movablemeans on the side which is subjected to the pressure in the tubing,whereby the tension of said means is added to such tubing pressure inoperating the movable means.

2. A flow valve including, a collar adapted to be connected in a tubingstring, a housing having a bore carried by the collar, said borecommunicating with the exterior of the housing and also communicatingwith the interior of the collar, a valve in the bore for controlling theow therethrough and actuated by the differential in pressure between theinterior of the collar and the exterior of the housing, movable meanswithin the bore having both sides exposed to the pressure within thecollar when the valve is closed and having one side exposed to thepressure within the interior of the collar and its opposite side exposedto the pressure exteriorly of the housing when the valve is open,whereby when the valve is open said movable means is actuated by thedifferential pressure for holding the valve open until the exteriorpressure reaches a predetermined point, and resilient means acting onsaid movable means for aiding the pressure within the collar to resistmovement of said means by the exterior pressure.

3. A iiow valve including, a housing adapted to be connected in the welltubing within a well casing and having a bore communicating with theinterior of said tubing and also communieating with the interior of thewell casing, wherebyvcommunication between the tubing and casing isestablished through said bore, a double valve seat within the bore, avalve adapted to engage said seats and actuated by the differential inpressure between the casing and the tubing, said valve engaging one seatand acting as a check when the pressure within the tubing is greaterthan the pressure in the casing, and movable means within the bore andalso actuated by the pressure differential for holding the Valve betweenlts seats to permit flow of fluid from the casing to the tubing at apredetermined pressure differential and for permitting the valve toengage the other seat to close when the pressurein the casing reaches apredetermined point.

4. A flow valve including, a housing adapted to be connected in the welltubing within a well casing and having a bore communicating with theinterior of said tubing and also communieating with the interior of thewell casing, whereby communication between the tubing and casing isestablished through said bore. a double valve seat within the bore, avalve adapted to engage said seats and actuated by the diierential inpressure between the casing and the tubing, said valve engaging one seatand acting as a check when the pressure within the tubing is greaterthanthe pressure in the casing, and a movable piston within the bore andhaving one end subjected to the pressure in the tubing and its other endsubjected to the pressure in the casing for engaging the valve to holdthe same in a position between the valve seats to permit ilow from thecasing to the tubing when the pressure dii'- ferential is at apredetermined point, said piston being actuated when the pressure in thecasing reaches a predetermined point to permit the valve to engage theother seat to close the bore.

5. A ilow valve including, a housing adapted to be connected in the welltubing within a well casing and having a bore communicating with theinterior of said tubing and also communicating with the interior of thewell casing, whereby communication'between the tubing and casing isestablished through said bore, a double valve seat within the bore, avalve adapted to engage said seats and actuated by the diierential inpressure between the casing and the tubing, said valve engaging one seatland acting as a check when the pressure within the tubing is greaterthan the pressure in the casing, and a movable piston within the boreand having one end subjected to the pressure in the tubing and its otherend subjected to the pressure in the casing, a stem on the piston forengaging the valve to hold the same between its seats at a predeterminedpressure differential, and resilient means exerting its pressure againstthe end of the piston subjected to the tubing pressure, whereby saidmeans aids such pressure in the tubing in resisting movement of thepiston by the pressure in the casing so that a predetermined pressure inthe casing is necessary to move the piston to permit the valve to engageits other seat and close the opening.

6. A flow valve including, a housing adapted to be connected in the welltubing within a well casing and having a bore communicating with theinterior of the well casing, whereby communication between the tubingand casing is established through the bore, a valve element within saidbore for controlling the flow therethrough and actuated by thediierential of the pressures within the casing and tubing, and a pistonslidable in the bore and having means carried thereby for positivelyholding the valve element in an open position until the pressure in thebore reaches a predetermined point, said piston having the pressuresthereacross equalized when the valve element is in a closed position andhaving opposite sides exposed to the pressures in the casing and tubingwhen the valve is open, whereby said piston is actuated by said pressurediilerential when the valve element is in its open position.

7. A flow valve including, a housing adapted to be connected in the welltubing within a well casing and having a bore communicating with theinterior of the Well casing, whereby communication between the tubingand casing is established through the bore, a valve element within saidbore for controlling the ow iiuid therethe through and actuated by thedifferential of the pressures within the casing and tubing, and a pistonwithin the bore above the valve element movable independently of thevalve element having one side exposed to the tubing pressure and itsopposite side exposed to the casing pressure, whereby said piston isactuated by the difierential in said pressures for positively holdingthe valve element in an open position until the pressure of the uidreaches a predetermined point.

8. A flow valve including, a housing adapted to be connected in the welltubing within a well casing and having a bore communicating with theinterior of the well casing, whereby communication between the tubingand casing is established through the bore, a valve element within saidboi'e for controlling the ow iluid therethrough and actuated by thedifferential of the pressures within the casing and tubing, a pistonwithin the bore above the valve element having both sides exposed to thetubing pressure when the valve element is open and having one sideexposed to the tubing pressure and its opposite side exposed tothecasing pressure when the valve element is open, whereby said pistonis actuated by the differential in said pressures for positively holdingthe valve element in an open position until the pressure of the uidreaches a predetermined point, and resilient means engaging the pistonon the side subjected to the pressure in the tubing, whereby the forceoi said means is added to the tubing pressure in operating the piston. I

9. A flow valve including, a housing adapted to be connected in the welltubing within a well casing and having a bore communicating 'with theinterior of the well casing, whereby communication between the tubingand casing is established through the bore, a valve element within saidbore for controlling the flow therethrough and actuated by thedifferential of the pressures within the casing and tubing, a pistonslidable in the bore above the valve element movable independently ofsaid element and actuated by the diil'erential in said casing and tubingpressures, and a depending stem on said piston adapted to engage theelement for holding the same in an open position until the pressure inlcasing has reached a predetermined point. 10. A ow valve including, ahousing adapted to be connected in the well tubing within a well casingand having a bore communicating with the interior of the well casing,whereby communication between the tubing and casing is establishedthroughthe bore, a valve element within said bore for controlling theilow therethrough and actuated by the diierential of the pressureswithin the casing and tubing, and a piston within the bore havingpressure thereacross equalized when the valve isin a closed position andhaving opposite sides exposed to the tubing and casing pressuresrespectively when the valve is open, whereby when said valve element isin its open position, the piston is actuated by the differential in saidpressure in the tubing and casing, said piston coacting with the valveelement to control the inlet of a iiuid to the tubing in accordance withthe pressure in said tubing.

ROY B. BRYANT.

